U.S. Assistant Secretary of State arrives in Beijing to discuss DPRK issue

The U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill arrived in Beijing on Friday early morning to discuss Wednesday's test-firing of missiles by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

"I don't have much to say right now", Hill told reporters at the airport. Hill, who is also chief U.S. negotiator to the six-party talks on Korean nuclear issue, is scheduled to meet with China's Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei to discuss how to promote the six party talks under current situation, according to the information from Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Thursday that a spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry confirmed that the DPRK had test-fired the missiles.

During a phone conversation between Chinese President Hu Jintao and his U.S. counterpart George W. Bush on Thursday evening, Hu told Bush that China is committed to maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and opposed to any actions that might intensify the situation.

"Under such a complicated situation, it is highly necessary for all the related parties to keep calm and show restraint", Hu said.

Source: Xinhua